Everything is on the line for our women who host an elimination final at the Canal against a tough Hornets side while our QFA boys will relish a perfect finals primer in their last home and away game.
QAFLW
The opposition
They’ve got an exciting brand od footy. They’re quick and really coached and have Ella Smith, an ex-AFLW player who broke the record for the most possessions last week with 47. They’ve got a really strong midfield that like to get on the outside and run so they're going to be a handful.
The challenge
Our biggest challenge is to score going inside 50. We had a couple of weeks prior where our contest and defensive shape was amazing, but our quality of inside 50s wasn't great. So, we were searching for a bit of connection and in the last two games against Moreton Bay and Broadbeach we got that. I'm really confident in our contest and defence and we've got great capabilities to score…I feel like we're building in that space
Ones to watch
Kierra Zerafa is one of the premier midfielders in the competition and has been for a couple of years. She brings in a really competitive edge. She's really focused and mature beyond her years in her leadership and knowledge of her game, and her footy IQ is off the charts. I've sensed there's a real feeling of calm amongst the girls in having another really experienced player in our midfield, so we’re looking forward to seeing what she brings this weekend.
The focus
Our mantra as a footy club is “pay the rent” and what that talks to is doing the little things for each other – the things that you probably wouldn't think to do. It crosses over into our footy - you don't have to do anything extraordinary on the day, you just have to play your role. It’s doing things for each other, having each other's back. So in “paying the rent”, it covers everything - sweeping the sheds, picking up after yourself, doing all those things. On the field, it's blocking, taking out your teammates’ opponent at a stoppage, walking an opponent out of dangerous space, little things that can help your teammate next to you. That’s what we've built our game on
Final words
There’s an excitement in and around women's football at the moment, and Queensland has the biggest growth market of AFL in Australia. It's an exciting sport to be in because the quality of player coming through is off the charts and the young girls coming through our program get better and better each year. Women’s football is going gangbusters and I'm just excited about what the future brings. Come and support the girls this weekend. I would love people to turn out and really support us and give us some energy going into the game.
-With Andy Lovell, Director of Football
QFA
The opposition
Carrara sit among the top contenders for season '26 and will be a formidable challenge to us. Over the years we have had a respectable rivalry as many of our games have gone down to the wire.
Shuffling the magnets
Unlike the past few weeks we may go in relatively unchanged. This is great news as we build towards our finals campaign.
Ones to watch
We will have a close eye on our midfield group this week to get first use as Carrara have high talent going through their midfield. Rarely beaten all year we are blessed with talent and options going through that part of the ground.
The focus
We need to get away to a strong start - we have been a little slow out of the blocks over the last month, we certainly need a good start to kill off any momentum the opposition might take advantage of.
Final word
Our last home game of the season brings both excitement as finals are near and a steely focus to charge into a finals campaign with momentum.
-with Max Kennedy, Head of Football Operations